ALCOHOL

In an idle moment, I found a new television series featuring three young male housekeepers who encounter terrorist challenges to overcome. In minutes, the show made it look like a great idea to stop smoking pot and start smoking the hallucinogen salvia. This can’t be good for our kids.

Most people have some kind of understanding of the idea of a gateway drugs—drugs that that are likely to lead to the use of more dangerous, deadly and addictive drugs. But some people argue that the gateway concept does not exist. Is this true or is this claim a dangerous muddling of the truth?

As we work to solve America’s problems with drug addiction and overdoses, there’s an intense focus on opioids alone. Letting ourselves develop this kind of tunnel vision could result in our overlooking some truly vital aspects of our nation’s problems with drugs and addiction.

There are hundreds of social norms shaping the way we think about alcohol and drug use use. But are norms dangerous? Useful? Rational? Are some of them leading to a loss of life? Should we re-evalute the norms we accept without even thinking about them?

Red Ribbon Week occurs every October, offering communities a consistent anti-drug message to deliver to youth. It’s also a good time for parents to take a look at how to increase the effectiveness of their anti-drug messages to their children.

The American epidemic of opioid addiction hits millions of people hard every day, including first responders. Two grateful individuals whose lives were saved went out of their way to thank their saviors.

It’s so much more pleasant to be loving, trusting and supportive. But you must know when to change gears to prevent the destruction of a person’s future, hopes and even their life. It starts with your own education on drugs and addiction and the education of your teens. Even with young adults, you can still initiate conversations that could save their lives.